Slow-acting relay



- T. VAN AMSTEL SLOW ACTING RELAY Filed Dec. 2, 1920 Patented Dec. 16;

UNITEE) Si ."iSSIGlNGR TS WESTERN ELECTRIC COM CORPORATION OF NE\V YORK.

SLOVi-ACTINCT RELAY.

Application field December oi New ll orli', have invented certain new and useil ul improvements in Slorwjicting Relays, of which the following is tnll clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a slow acting relay.

The obiect of the invention is to oroduce ll l a compact. etlicient and c ap may, the operation of which may be olcnged tor a predetermined time.

To attain this object a relay coil is connected in a main energizing circuit and operates an armature which rotates a commutator step-by-stcp. The commutator ca ries two contact strips which cooperate cont-act brushes, one serving to close a local relay circuit and the other to complete a York circuit on the first step oi the commutator due to energization by the main circuit. Then the local circuit is closed, it opc 'ates the armature and completes the revolution or any predetermined part thereof of the commutator. Thus the work circuit is closed for a predetermined time. The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing which discloses plan of the device.

A relay coil 1 is introduced into a main energizing circuit which includes battery 2 and contact members 3 and 4;. These contactmembers are operated by means such as a relay coil 5. Relay coil 1 operates an armature 6 which is pivoted at '7 and serves to rotate step by step by means of a pawl 25, a ratchet wheel 8 which is n'iounted on a shaft 9. Attached to the ratchetwheel 8 is disc or drum 10 made of any insulation material. Two contact strips 11 and 12 are carried by this disc 10 and their ends are separated as at 13. Contact brushes 16 and 17 which rest on the disc 10 at 13 when the device is in its normal position cooperate with contact strip 12 and form a local relay circuit when the ratchet wheel is rotated one step. This local circuit includes battery 2, relay coil 1, line 18 contact brush 16, contact strip 12. brush 17 line 19, contact point- 20 and the spring contact member 21 which is grounded. The stud 22 made of insulation material and carried by armature 6 serves to operate spring contact 2, 1920. Serial No. 427,769.

21 Brushes 1 and are terminals 01 a work circuit 28 that may be closed when contact strip 1 comes :nto contact with them.

. dog 23 is in: teeth ot the 1- v-hrel in po' by means ot arc... .ure 6. A spring 24. serves to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth 26 o? the ratchet wheel 8. 27 is a spring which returns armature 6 to its normal position when relay coil 1 is deenergizcd. Relay coil 1 is energized by the battery 2 on the clcsin of contact members 3 and 4t.

' ition causes coil 1 to opert and move the ratchet wheel 8. which drives the commutator forward one stepv On the completion of this initial movement the brushes l6 and 17 make contact with the contact strip 12. At the same time the stud 22 carried by the ari'nature 6 rates the contact members and 21. ll ien the circuit comprising battery 2. relay ed to engage with the l wheel 8 and hold the coil 1 nd contact members 3 and @l is broken. the .iatnre 6 is returned to its normal po- .sition by spring 27. This allows contact members 20 and 21 to engage and make the local circuit inclu .f g battery 2, relay coil 1. line 18. brush 16, contact strip 12, brush 1?. line 19. and contact members 20 and 21.

The relay coil 1 is again energized and operates the armature 6 which breaks the circuit and is returned to its normal position, Thus, a self-interrupting circuit is establish.- ed and the armature 6 is vibrated until the commutator makes one revolution or a portion there/o; depending on the length of the contact strip 12, and the brushes 16 and 17 rest on the insulation as at 13 and break the local circuit. At the same time as the local circuit is completed. the work circuit 28 is closed by the brushes 14; and 15 coming in contact with contact strip 11 and remains closed for a predetermined time.

The length of th e the worl; circuit reclosed can be .ied by changing the leng ii of the contact strips 11 and 12 or by changing the speed 0'? the commutator or by altering both speed and length of contact strips.

What is claimed is:

1. it slow acting relay comprising a coil. an energizing circuit therefon an armature operated by said coil a ratchet wheel rotated step-by-step by said armature, a commutator driven by said ratchet wheel, a

on to which it is rotated local circuit tor said coil closed by the first step (it said commutator, contacts in said local circuit operated by said armature whereby the armature after the first step vibrated and rotates said commutator step-by-stcp means carried by said commutator tor closing! a work circuit and retaininc it closed, 'ior any predetermined part ot' the rotation of said commutator.

2. A slow acting; relay comprising an electromagnet, an armature therefor, a ratchet wheet arranged for step-by-step rotation by said arnuiture. a conin'iutator rotatable with said ratchet: wheel and driven thereby, a contact strip on said commutator. and brushes cooper therewith to close a local circuit tor said electromagnet after an initial cnerc'ization therco't, contacts in said local circuit: under the control of said armature whereby said electroniagnet automatically advances said ratcliiet wheel, steplay-step after said. initial energization, a second contact strip tor said commutatm'. contact brushes cooperating therewith and a wort-z circuit closed by said brushes and contact strip for a predetermined degree of rotation of said commutator.

3. In combination with a main energizing circuit. a slow acting relay comprising a coil energized by said circuit, a pivoted armature operated by Said coil. a ratchet wheel designed tor step-by-step rotation by said armature, a commutator fixed to said ratchet wheel and rotatable therewith, contact strips carried by said commutator and brushes to engage therewith to make a local circuit on the completion oil? the first step due to the first energization, contacts in said local circuit and operated by said ari'i'iature whereby said coil operates said armature which rotates the ratchet wheel stepday-step after the closing of the said local circuit, and a second set of contact brushes engagingwith said contact strips and serving to close a work circuit for a predet ern'iined time.

4. ii slow acting relay .:o1upi.isin,: a coil and an cnergiZing. circuit theretor armature operated by said coil. a ratchet wheel ar anged, tor step-lrv-step rotatitm by said zirn'iatirrc. a conni'iutator rotatctjl by said ri'itche: \i'hccl. two contact strips or two sets or contact strips arried by rid commutator. contact brushes to engage with one ot' said contact strips or one o't said set ot' contac strips and. close an auxiliary circuit. on first step of said ratchet wheel caused by first energziaation, contacts in said auxiliary circuit operated by said armature whereby said armature i'iln'ated and rotates said muninutator step-by-stel') after the first clos ing of the auxiliary circuit, and contact; brushes which cooperate with the other con tact strip or one of the set of contact strips and. close a work circuit for a predcter mined time.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of November A. 1).. i920.

TUDOR van AMSTEL. 

